Wheel-tire.



J. D. MARVIL.

WHEEL TIRE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1909. 999,51 1 Patented Aug.1,1911;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wizard/fa J J. D. MARVIL.

WHEEL TIRE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1909.

999,51 1. Patented Aug. 1,1911.

2 SHI ETSSHEET 2.

jZWiZZOI" UoIsZ ad zi/zazwz y I COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CO WASHINGTON, DV 6.

UMTED %TATE PATENT @FFTQE.

JOSHUA D. MARVIL, 0F LAUREL, DELAWARE.

WHEEL-TIRE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSHUA D. llLlARvIL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Laurel, in the county of Sussex and State of Delaware, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in "Wheel-Tires, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to wheels and particularly that class havingyielding tires for producing a cushioning efiect without utilizingpneumatic means or an inner inflated tube or chamber under pneumaticpressure.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a wheel having aspring organization made in sections which are individually capable ofdetachment without removing all of the sections or dismantling thecomplete wheel rim when it is necessary to repair or replace any one ofthe sections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel having a rimorganization embodying spring carrying sections which may be readilyapplied to wheel rims as now ordinarily constructed without requiring aspecial construction or arrangement of the rim and avoiding in thepreferred application the formation of openings through the rim andwhereby it is ossible to remove the entire rim organization embodyingthe features of the invention and replace the same if desired by theusual pneumatic wheel rim structure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rim organizationfor a wheel embodying a plurality of sections carrying springs withoutweakening any part of the rim organization by forming a practicallycontinuous band means of the sections and thus avoid crushing of anypart of the rim organization when the wheel is subjected to unusualservice or in traveling over rough roads.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists in the construction and arrangement of the sev eral parts whichwill be more fully hereinafter specified in preferred form, oneembodiment of the invention being illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings for the purpose of demonstrating a practical organization whichmay be varied within the meaning or scope of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheel, with partsbroken away and shown in section, and illustrating the fea-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 3, 1909.

Patented Aug. 1, 1911.

Serial No. 487,692.

tures of the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of thewheel tire, with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective viewof one of the securing bolts. Fig. 4: is a transverse vertical sectionthrough the tire and rim. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 takenthrough another portion of the tire and rim. Fig. 6 is a detailperspective view of one of the spring carrying sections and a key tocooperate therewith. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a lockingmeans for the securing bolts of the spring carrying sections. Fig. 8 isa top plan view of a portion of the wheel rim particularly showing themeans for securing one of the inner spring carrying sections to thewheel rim without requiring mutilation of the latter. Fig. 9 is a detailperspective view of one of the inner spring carrying sections to engagethe wheel rim. Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation showing a slightmodification in the assemblage of the inner spring carrying sectionsengaging the wheel rim and particularly illustrating the use of a keybetween the terminals of the sections.

The numeral 5 designates a hub having a plurality of spokes 6 radiatingtherefrom and connected to or forming a part of a rim 7, the latterincluding in its organization the usual channeled retaining means 8 nowcommonly employed in ordinary wheels equipped with pneumatic tires. Thewheel as shown and embodying the parts 5, 6, 7 and 8 is the well knownform of device of this class now commonly used on automobiles and likevehicles, and as hereinbefore noted one of the main advantages of thepresent wheel construction is that no mutilation or particularpreparation of the main wheel structure is necessary to apply theimproved tire organization except in one specific instance or modifiedform as shown by Fig. 10 and which will be more fully hereinafterexplained.

The improved tire organization comprises an outer continuous metallicband 9 circumscribing the rim of the wheel and standing outwardly fromthe latter a distance sufficient to render the remaining parts of therim practically applicable and removable. The band 9, as clearly shownby Figs. 4 and 5, is formed with an inner channel 10 and an outer seat11 to receive an elastic tread member 12 which is preferably of the formshown but may be varied at will.

The spring carrying means embodies outer and inner companion sections 13and 14 and may have one or more springs 15 attached thereto, thesect-ions in the wheel shown by Fig. 1 carrying two springs, and thesection 13 as shown by Fig. 6 being arranged to support one spring; andby this mode of illustrating the number of springs that may be carriedby the sections it will be understood that itis proposed to use anynumber of springs in connection with each pair of sections. The outersections 13 are channeled as at 16, these channels being formed bybending or striking over the opposite side edges 17 which are fitted inthe channel 10 of the band 9 and secured by bolts 18 of the form shownby Fig. 3 and having a part 19 of the shanks angular or square incrosssection. The heads of the bolts 18 are located adjacent to theinner surfaces of the sections 13 and the outer surfaces of the sections14, and the terminals 20 of the springs, as shown by Figs. 8 and 9, arebent at an angle to fit around the angular parts 19 of the bolts toprevent the springs from having rotating movement. The bolts 18 appliedto the outer sections 13 have the threaded portions 21 of their shanksengaged by nuts 22 within the channels 16 and the said nuts areprevented from turning by locking blocks or members 23, shown in detailby Fig. 7, and having angular recesses 24, one in each, to receiveportions of the nuts, the outer straight walls 25 of these lockingblocks or members bearing snugly against the one bent edge or flange 17of the outer sections 13. These locking blocks or members 23 are notpenetrated or held by fastenings and will not slip out of place in Viewof the fact that they are so proportioned as to fill up the distancebetween the bent edges or flanges 17 and the adjacent portions of thenuts 22. By this means the bolts 18 are prevented from working looseunder vibration and the springs 15 are consequently maintained inpositive connection with the outer sections 13. The outer sections 13continue regularly around the band 9 to which they are applied withoutterminal gaps, and at regular intervals keys 26 are interposed betweenthe ends of pairs of the outer sections 13, said keys consisting ofblocks having opposite dovetail projections or ribs 27 to fit incorrespondingly shaped seats 28 in the ends of the sections 13, one ofthe bolts 18* being passed through each key to hold it firmly in appliedposition. The sections 13 are fitted against the band 9 and the keys 26are afterward inserted, and when it is desired to remove anyone of thesections the key cooperating with the section desired to be removed isdetached, thus permitting a freedom of action or sufficient looseness ofthe section thus affected to permit it to be drawn out of the channel 10of the band 9. It is also proposed in some instances to similarlyconnect the ends of the inner spring carrying sections 14, as shown byFig. 10, a key 26 constructed as hereinbefore explained being interposedbetween the ends of the said sections 14 and removably held in place bya bolt 18 passed through the rim of the wheel, this constructionrequiring a slight mutilation of the rim or the formation of openings toreceive the said bolts 18. For reasons hereinafter eX- plained, however,keying of the inner spring carrying sections 14 is not necessary, but itmay be preferred in some constructions to key both the outer and innerspring carrying sections 13 and 14.

The bolts used for securing the keys 26 in place demonstrate onepractical form of positively attaching said keys in a removable manner,but it will be understood that other means might be adopted for securingthese keys, and in the construction shown by Figs. 1, 4 and 5 the bolts18 which are inserted through the keys penetrate the band 9, asparticularly shown by Fig. 5, without passing entirely through the saidband, and are readily removable and applicable by means of a wrench orother suitable implement placed in engagement with the heads thereof. Tofacilitate the removal of the keys after the bolts 18 have beenreleased, the one end of each key is formed with an-opening 29 andadjacent to this opening the band is notched as at 30 for the purpose ofinserting the reduced extremity of an instrument in the opening. Thesections 13 and 13 by the arrangement specified practically form acontinuous supplemental band around the inner side of the outersupporting band 9 and the rim organization is thus materiallystrengthened as all gaps between the ends of the said sections areclosed and the sections resist injury or crushing of any part of theband by a sudden pound or blow that might be brought thereon intraveling over rough or stony roads or engaging ruts or otherobstructions.

The inner sections 14 are each separably held within the channeledretaining means 8 of the rim 7 and for this purpose are pro vided withterminal securing means which may be readily operated to rigidly fasteneach section within the channeled retaining means or to release thesection. One form of fastening means is particularly shown by Figs. 8and 9 and consists of a turn-bar 31 intermediately engaged by and freelymovable on a fulcrum stud 32 secured in the center of the section 14adjacent to one end of the latter, the bar 31 being movable on thisfulcrum stud toward and away from the section 14. Each turning bar alsocarries two clamping screws 33 individually disposed between the fulcrumstud and the terminals of the bar, and the ends of these clamping screwsfit into recesses 34 in the section 14 to prevent the bar 31 fromshifting or moving after it has been adjusted through the medium of saidclamping screws to secure the section in place within the channeledretaining means 8. The opposite extremities of each bar 31 are recessedas at 35 to fit under and snugly engage the flanges 36 of the retainingmeans 8, and the reverse corners of each bar are cut away as at 37 togive the bar a clearance in turning the same under the said flanges 36.It will be understood that the sections 13 and 14 carry one or moresprings 15 as hereinbefore indicated and said sections aresimultaneously applied to and removed from the rim of the wheel. Bothsections 13 and 14 serving as the spring carrying means are curvedlongitudinally in accordance with the curvature of the band 9 and thechanneled retaining means 8 and when the companion sections are appliedthe inner section 14 is first fitted in the channeled retaining meanswith the bars 31 standing as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8, and afterthe section 14 has been seated the said bars are turned as shown by fulllines in Fig. 8 and the clamping screws 33 are operated to cause thebars 31 to be forced firmly against the under portions of the flanges 36with the terminals of the said flanges fitting firmly in the recesses orseats 35 in the opposite ends of the bars. The inner sections 14 are ofconsiderably less width than the distance between the inner opposingedges of the flanges 36 so that they may be readily inserted within thechanneled retaining means 8, and when the bars 31 are arranged andsecured as shown by full lines in Fig. 8, the pressure on the sections14 is sufliciently strong to set up a positive engagement of the saidsections 14 with the channeled retaining means 8, as shown by Fig. 4,and slipping movement or displacement of the sections 14 is prevented.After the section 14 of each pair of sections 13 and 14 is secured asjust specified, the outer 00- operating section 13 is forced into placein the channel 10 of the band 9 and the keys 26 introduced at the pointsexplained and the bolts for securing the parts applied. As clearly shownby Figs. 1 and 5, between the springs 15, bolts 18 are inserted throughthe outer sections 13 into the band 9, the bolts 18 being of such lengthas to terminate flush with the outer surface of the band and do notpenetrate the elastic or rubber tread 12. It is preferred that at theconterminous ends of the outer sections 13 between the ends of saidsections engaged by the keys 26, the bolts 18 penetrate the joint, halfof the bolt opening being formed in the end of one section and theremaining half of said opening in the end of the adjacent section, theheads of the bolts penetrating these joints extending over far enough toprevent the said ends from working loose.

What is claimed is:

1. A rim for a wheel comprising aplurality of spring carrying sectionshaving contiguous ends engaging each other, the parts of each pair ofspring carrying sections being held intact when removed from and appliedto the rim and having the springs terminally secured thereto, the pairsof spring carrying sections being individually removable from andapplicable to the rim without disturbing the remaining pairs of sectionsor the cooperating parts of the wheel, a part of the sections havingkeys interposed between the ends thereof and the remaining part of thesections having turnbars at their ends to separably secure the pairs ofspring sections to difl'erent portions of the wheel rim.-

2. The combination with a channeled wheel rim, of a tire organizationcomprising a plurality of groups of pairs of spring carrying sectionsarranged end to end, the said sections having keys interposed betweenthe ends thereof and provided with opposite portions projecting into thesection ends, each group of sections being individually applicable toand removable from the rim without disturbin the remaining sections.

3. The combination With a wheel rim, of a continuous band surroundingthe rim and spaced therefrom and carrying an elastic tread, a pluralityof groups of spring carrying sections applied to the band and continuingregularly around the latter without intervening gaps between their ends,each group embodying an outer and an inner section with springsinterposed between the sections, the groups of spring carrying sectionsbeing individually removable from and applicable to the rim withoutdisturbing the remaining sections, and interposed keys and turn bars forsecuring the sections to the rim.

4. The combination with a wheel rim, of a continuous band surroundingthe rim and spaced therefrom and carrying an elastic tread, a pluralityof groups of spring carrying sections removably applied to the band andcontinuing regularly around the said hand without intervening gapsbetween their ends the ends of the sect-ions being flat, and removablekeys interposed between and having opposite projections extending intothe ends of the sections so that the sections may be individuallyremoved and applied, the keys being flush with the ends of the sections.

5. A rim for a wheel comprising a spring cushioning means involving aplurality of groups of spring carrying sections arranged in end to endrelation and continuing regularly around the rim without interveninggaps between their ends, the groups of sections being individuallyremovable and applicable without disturbing the remaining sections, keysinterposed between and having opposite port-ions projecting into theends of the sections and the rim, and an elastic tread devicecooperating with the spring cushioning means.

6. The combination with a channeled wheel rim, of a tire organizationinvolving a plurality of groups of spring carrying sec tions, each groupcomprising a pair of sections, the inner section of each pair having afastening device at opposite ends movably held thereon to engageportions of the channeled rim and the outer section of each pair havingfastening devices extending through the abutting ends thereof, the pairsof sections being individually applicable to and removable from the rimwithout disturbing the remaining sections.

7 The combination with a wheel rim, of a continuous band surrounding therim and spaced therefrom and having an elastic tread, a plurality ofgroups of spring carrying sections, each group comprising a pair ofsections, and all the pairs of sections being independently applicableto and removable from the band and rim, the outer sections of each pairhaving their ends abutting and continuing regularly around the band,springs held between each pair of sections and provided with lockingmeans to prevent rotation thereof, and means for removably securing thesections to the band and rim.

8. The combination with a wheel rim having a channeled form, of a tireorganization comprising a plurality of groups of pairs of inner andouter spring carrying sections independently applicable to and removablefrom the rim and provided with fastening means for engaging the rim, aportion of the fastening means being interposed between a part of thesection ends and secured to the rim and the remaining portion of thefastening means being carried by the section ends and engaging the rim.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOSHUA D. MARVIL.

Witnesses IsAAo H. DOWNS, NORMAN L. WARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

